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Film

Movie Trailers are the New Black

by Alex David Jimenez

There, I said it. We’re all thinking it. Or perhaps, when in fact studying the craft that is designing a film trailer nowadays, in all their ostentatious glory – perhaps movie trailer teasers are in fact the new black. And then all the young boys and girls of a certain sort stand proudly and truculently in their not-so-common Storm Trooper costumes and meticulously crafted Elven ears and say Nay! – it is not the teasers of said trailers which are the new shade of popular, oh no. It is in fact the teasers of teasers which are just the greatest thing ever!

9A long time ago, in a Hollywood now far, far away, the only hint of a plot to upcoming films was a poster. And it was usually hand-drawn. Imagine a let down of that magnitude in today’s viral campaign-mongering and hashtag-driven world of foreshadowing wonder. It would be madness, I tell you, madness!

Here is where one would cue the brass-heavy rousing film score.

While dramatic to an extent, there is in fact an aspect of truth to the idea that movie trailers can sell or destroy today’s major motion pictures. Along with the special-effects and the plot twists and the acting techniques which have adapted and grown to a higher standard as the years have gone by, the previews to our films have also significantly risen in quality. It’s very easy to compare the compelling appeal of movie trailers today to those of yesteryear, thanks heavily in part to the accessibility of YouTube and modern-day archive resources at a whim.

Case and point, here’s the official trailer from the original 1954 version of GODZILLA:

And then watch this one, from the 2014 film reboot:

And lastly, just for the overall nerdy fuck of it, check out this mashup of the old with the new. The style alone brings a new element to the old trailer which makes it appealing, even today.

So why do we love movie previews so damn much? Well, part of it has to do with the fact that we are able to spread them like wildfire. Back when films were a thing of luxury, in black and white glory and magnificent faux sets, the only group of people who saw the previews to the next big film were the ones in the theater. Jump-cut to today when movie trailers are premiered on the internet before they even make their debuts in theaters.

This past Thanksgiving two very large movie trailers made an appearance in theaters. How do I know? Well because they first landed on YouTube, before they appeared anywhere else. Was this effective? You be the judge: The film trailer for Jurassic World was posted on YouTube on November 25th. As of the time of the publishing of this article, it has been viewed 41,077,141 times. Yes, that’s forty-one million. And counting. On November 28th, the trailer for Star Wars: The Force Awakens was posted on YouTube. Today it has 42,193,847 views.

Have you seen these trailers? If not, check them out here:

And with all this being said and watched, how many times do we fall victim to the ever-present masterpiece trailer, only to be followed by the monumentally disappointing actual film? We’re looking at you, Superman Returns. It’s true, the foreplay does not always result in a fantastic finish.

Screen Shot 2014-12-04 at 11.57.13 PM
LEGO Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens Trailer – by kristo499 on YouTube

So what’s next? If movie trailer teaser teasers are the rage, what could possibly top them?

Easy. Movie trailer teaser teaser parodies for the win.

Which film trailers are your favorite? Which ones were better than the actual film?

Filed Under: ENTERTAINMENT, LIFESTYLE Tagged With: entertainment, Film, godzilla, jurassic world, lifestyle, movies, previews, Star Wars, teasers, trailers

Stripped Fashion: 5 Ways to KISS

by Greg Serebuoh

David Gandy Crop

David Gandy 1

It’s probably clear by now that I have a special place in my artist heart for fashion that is edgy, quirky, avant-garde, or unconventional. Still, if there is one thing I value more than innovation, it’s versatility, and though I love to see crazy geometric shapes or odd combinations of materials in fashion, I’m also a sucker for an outfit that dazzles with its simplicity or its flawless execution of a classic aesthetic. Plus, with the coming of warm weather, being able to strip down with style is a huge asset. So I want to take a moment to talk about 5 ways to KISS – Keep It Simple and Stylish.

1. Seek Out Quality Materials

Whether you’re wearing jeans and a t-shirt or a tailored suit, high quality fabrics and materials can make the most straightforward outfit look like a million bucks. Saint Laurent exemplifies the power of premium threads and classic style.

Yves Saint Laurent SS13 1Yves Saint Laurent SS13 2Yves Saint Laurent SS13 3

Quality fabrics not only look better to the eye but they also tend to last much longer and rest on the body in a more flattering way. Bottega Veneta’s Spring/Summer 2014 campaign prominently features this magic combination of quality and simplicity.

Bottega Veneta SS14Bottega Veneta  SS14 2

Bottega Veneta SS14 3

Of course, higher quality usually means higher prices. Still, an investment in a few top quality pieces may be worth your while, particularly if they have the next key trait.

2. Value Versatility

Sleek, basic wardrobe often works with any number of looks and can be dressed up or down. Lanvin’s Pre-Fall Lookbook makes this explicit as it brings formal and casual sensibilities together.

Lanvin Pre-Fall 2013 LookbookLanvin Pre-Fall 2013 Lookbook 3

Lanvin Pre-Fall 2013 Lookbook 5

Look for the pieces that will look good with anything.

3. Focus on Line and Shape

Simplicity in line and shape can also make a classic look captivating. I am loving Tom Ford’s Fall/Winter 2014 line, which is both elegant and sexy because of its classic lines and timeless style.

Tom Ford FW13 1Tom Ford FW13 2Tom Ford FW13 3

Tom Ford FW13 4Tom Ford FW13 5Tom Ford FW13 6

Classic pieces can complement the body without a lot of ostentation, emphasizing the fundamental beauty of the male form.

4. Exude Ease and Comfort

Simple style that seems (and hopefully is) really comfortable, creates a relaxed and effortless air that is also incredibly sexy. To be fair, this is not wholly dependent on the outfit itself. It has a lot to do with how it is carried as well. David Gandy is a master of simple and sexy.

David Gandy 1David Gandy 2David Gandy 3

David Gandy 4David Gandy 5David Gandy 6

Anyone else wondering what he’s carrying around in all dem bags?

Also, whoever styles Mr. Gandy is well aware of the fact that henley shirts look hot on just about anyone.

5. Give it Edge 

Sometimes what really makes a simple outfit rock is one minor twist. Valentino’s last few campaigns take basic concepts and give them a bit of edge with thoughtful details.

Valentino SS14 2Valentino SS14 3

Valentino SS14 5Valentino SS14 6

Jeans and a tee with one eccentric accessory. A sleek suit with a pair of fly sneaks. A plain top with a quirky bottom. Or striking colors paired with classic cuts, as in Tom Ford’s Spring/Summer 2014 line.

Tom Ford SS14 2Tom Ford SS14

Tom Ford SS14 3

 

A word on Tom Ford. It’s no coincidence that he has come up twice. It was actually my recollection of the gorgeous style of his film A Single Man that inspired this article. I was as blown away by the aesthetic of the film as I was by its story.

     A Single Man 1A Single Man 2

a single man 2A Single Man 3

Ford’s brilliant film is a testament to the fact that simple, classic style when thoughtfully executed can make a huge impression.

Filed Under: FASHION, LIFESTYLE, STYLE Tagged With: A Single Man, art, Bottega Veneta, Christopher Isherwood, classic, Colin Firth, David Gandy, dolce and gabbana, fashion, Film, Jon Kortajarena, julianne moore, Lanvin, Matthew Goode, Nicholas Hoult, Paris, premium, quality, Saint Laurent, simple, spring, style, suit, summer, tom ford, Valentino, Versace

The Tribeca Film Festival 2013 is Here!

by Andrew Gutierrez

 

Photo Courtesy of Tribeca Film Festival
Photo Courtesy of Tribeca Film Festival

The Tribeca Film Festival is back to grace us with some awesome movie selections for everyone to check out from April 17th – 28th.  This is the 12th year the film festival will return to lower Manhattan and if you can snag some tickets to any films make sure you do so ASAP because screenings are selling out as we speak.  Some of the highly anticipated films this year are Julie Delpy’s  Before Midnight (The sequeal to her films Before Sunrise and Before Sunset), Adult World (starring Emma Roberts and directed by Scott Coffey), Flex is Kings (a doc focusing on Brooklyn’s “Flex” dance movement directed by Diedre Schoo and Michael Beach Nichols), and Big Bad Wolves (an Israeli serial killer flick where the killer may be the one killed directed by Navot Papushado and Aharon Keshales).  The festival opens on Wednesday, April 17th, with the screening of Mistaken for Strangers which focuses on an indie band, The National, from Brooklyn.

If your cash is tight, or if you’d rather just chill out at home and avoid the crowds the Tribeca Film Festival has options for you to still take advantage of this New York tradition. People across the country will be allowed to access  the Tribeca Online Festival and Tribeca Film’s on-demand offerings throughout the festival’s run this year.  The Tribeca Online Festival  will provide free streaming of  the following seven films:  Alias Ruby Blade: A Story of Love and Revolution, Lil Bug & Friendz ( For the cat lover in you!), Farah Goes Bang, and short films like  RPG OKC, Delicacy, The Exit Room, and A Short Film About Guns. These films will all be accessible  via  tribecaonlinefestival.com and audiences can vote for their favorites with the winners receiving $16K in prize money. So all is not lost if you prefer to chill in the house and you’re sick of Netflix!  You can easily check out the Tribeca Online Festival.

If you happen to be in the New York area, but are suffering from a lack of funds (aka ain’t nothing going on but the rent!)  and want to get out and enjoy the recently arrived spring weather, the Tribeca Film Festival will be screening the following films for FREE for your enjoyment:

Beetlejuice

Friday 4/19 8:00 PM Tribeca Drive-In (World Financial CenterPlaza) FREE

 

And The Band Played OnSaturday 4/27 3:30 PM SVA Theater 1 Silas FREE W/ TICKET

 

 Alberi (Short Film)

Saturday 4/20 5:00 PM MoMa PS1’s VW Dome FREE

 

The Birds

Thursday 4/18 8:00 PM Tribeca Drive-In (World Financial CenterPlaza) FREE

 

Stand Clear of the Closing Doors

Saturday 4/27 7:00 PM MoMA PS1 Rockaway FREE

 

Lil Bub & Friendz

Saturday 4/20 8:00 PM Tribeca Drive-In (World Financial CenterPlaza) FREE

 

Hey, even if you do have cash why not save it for drinks at the bar after watching any of these free screenings! To check out the synopses for any of the films, buy tickets, and find directions to theaters or box offices please hit up Tribecafilm.com/festival.

Photo Courtesy of Tribeca Film Festival
Photo Courtesy of Tribeca Film Festival

Filed Under: ENTERTAINMENT, MOVIES, NEW YORK Tagged With: entertainment, Film, Foreign Films, Free, movies, NEW YORK, Short films, Tribeca, Tribeca Film Festival 2013

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